5waysApple’snewTVservicecoulddestroythecompetition

Apple has long been rumored to be working on a TV video streaming service. If The Wall Street Journal is correct, that service will be unveiled by the iPhone maker this June at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). According to the publication, Apple’s plan is to offer 25 channels for a monthly cost of between $30 and $40.

What can Apple do to guarantee that the new service is a success and crush the competition? We can think of at least five things, take a look:

Not just on Apple TV

Cupertino is expected to launch a fourth-generation Apple TV later this year. This suggests that the new video streaming service will only be available on the new hardware. As Dish Network has shown with Sling TV, this probably isn’t the best way to go.

Apple Television, as we’ll call the new service, should be available across multiple platforms, including Amazon Fire TV and Fire TV Stick, current-generation Roku players and Roku TV models, plus iOS, Mac, PC, and Android. In other words, Cupertino needs to build an Apple Television app for every platform available. (At the minimum, the service should be available through Apple TV and iOS.)

Integrate with iTunes

Apple has long offered movies and television shows for purchase or rental through iTunes. These offerings should be provided side-by-side with the new TV video streaming service.

Lower the price

People are tired of paying for channels they don’t want, which is one of the reasons many are canceling their expensive cable or satellite subscriptions. Any alternatives to these tired services will have to cost significantly less, yet still offer the best channels TV has to offer.

Paying between $30 and $40 per month for 25 channels sounds like an expensive proposition. Apple should bring the price down further, so there is no doubt the company is serious about changing how we watch television.

Pause, rewind, fast forward

We’ve all been spoiled by DVRs, which allow us to pause, rewind, and fast forward TV shows in real time. Sling TV also offers this, at least on some channels. Out of the gate, every channel on Apple Television should have these abilities, helping us to avoid those annoying commercials.

Video on Demand

Finally, Apple Television should include video on demand (VOD) capabilities. Not everyone can watch their favorite programs when they originally air. Give us VOD across the service, Apple

Summary

Apple’s Eddy Cue once said that the state of TV today “sucks.” We agree and can’t wait to see what Apple has planned for our living rooms. Stay tuned.